Long term care programs
How we meet the needs of our residents.
Nursing and personal care
Our trained team provides nursing and personal care that meets the diverse needs of all residents. Nursing care is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Personal care includes assistance with daily living activities such as dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting and eating.
Plan of care
Our care team develops an individual plan of care for each resident based on the resident’s personal preferences and care needs. The plan of care reflects current health status and describes individualized care requirements with specific goals. It’s reviewed and updated at least every 3 months or when resident health needs change.
Care conference
A care conference brings residents, family members or substitute decision makers together with members of the interdisciplinary team to discuss the care and services that best meet the resident’s needs, preference, and circumstances.
The first care conference will be held within 6 weeks of admission and then will be scheduled annually thereafter. However, a care conference can be held any time when the resident’s circumstances change. These conferences may be initiated by the centre, by the resident, the family or substitute decision maker.
Medical care
Medical services for residents are provided by the attending physicians or Nurse Practitioners. Community physicians may continue providing care to newly admitted residents if they agree to meet specified requirements. The Medical Director of the Centre oversees medical care and services.
Medications and treatments are prescribed by the Attending Physician or Nurse Practitioner and are only administered by the centre’s Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse. Over-the-counter medication must be given to the unit’s nursing staff to be stored in the medication cart. This ensures we are aware of all the medications residents are taking and can advise about any potential harmful drug interactions.
The Attending Physician, Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse are to be informed of use of natural or herbal remedies. This will ensure our staff know all the medications (natural, herbal, or pharmaceutical) residents are taking and can advise about any potential harmful drug interactions. The resident, family, or substitute decisionmaker takes full responsibility for all costs of non-prescription medication.
More information
The Attending Physicians and staff at our Centres support residents’ choice to use alternative treatments. Notify the Attending Physician and Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse so they can help residents coordinate their plan of care.
Ambulance and hospital services can be accessed by the Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse should a resident need to be transferred to a hospital. We provide most medications and medical supplies.
Our centres offer a pleasurable and relaxing dining atmosphere. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining room located in the resident’s home area.
We provide a 4-week menu cycle with summer-fall and winter-spring rotations. Menus are planned in accordance with the Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide for Healthy Eating, Dietary Reference Intakes, ministry standards and input from residents.
Snacks between meals and at bedtime are also offered. Menus are posted daily and weekly in the dining rooms so that residents are aware of the foods being served at meals. Residents are also shown a sample of the meal when they place their order in the dining room to assist them in their selection.
To meet individual dietary needs, we offer regular, modified consistencies and therapeutic diets such as but not limited to, diabetic, lactose restricted, renal, gluten restricted and vegetarian with planned alternative menu choices for beverages, entrées, vegetables and desserts. We also schedule menu-theme days to acknowledge traditional holidays, cultural themes and other special occasions.
The dietary staff includes the Dietary Services Supervisor, Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario, Team Leads, certified cooks and food service or dietary aide staff. The Clinical Dietitian maintains nutrition programs to ensure that residents receive their appropriate diets and nutrition interventions to maintain optimal health and nutritional status.
Residents and families have an opportunity to provide feedback on concerns as they occur, attend dining services meetings and participate in Resident and Family or Caregiver Experience surveys.
Sample breakfast
- Assorted juice
- Scrambled eggs
- Cream of wheat and bran
- Whole wheat or white toast
- Margarine, jam, jelly or honey
Or
- Assorted cold cereal
- Selection of toast
- Jam, jelly or honey
Sample lunch
- Leek soup
- Pulled pork on bun
- Buttered corn
- Carrot spiced cake
Or
- Apple juice
- Vegetable quiche
- Multigrain bread
- Peppers and onions
- Peach slices
Sample dinner
- Orange juice
- Veal marsala
- Seasoned green beans
- Wheat roll
- Butter pecan fudge cake
Or
- Baked basa fillet
- Rice pilaf
- Calico corn
- Diced fresh melon
Morning snack
- Cranberry juice
Or
- Coffee or tea
- Creamer, milkette, or sugar
Afternoon snack
- Date turnover cookie
- Raspberry drink
Or
- Coffee or tea
- Creamer, milkette, or sugar
Bedtime snack
- Egg salad sandwich
- Grape juice
Or
- Coffee or tea
- Creamer, milkette, or sugar
We have a Palliative Care and End of Life Program in place, which is supportive in nature, with a focus on comfort measures. The goal of palliative care is to relieve pain and suffering and improve the quality of life of residents or family members.
Select care team members partner with the family or substitute decision maker to ensure that the resident’s end-of-life experience is met with dignity and comfort. The care provided is based on the resident’s needs, preference and choice.
We offer rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy to our residents. All our centres have rehabilitation professionals who are part of our care team.
Many of our rehabilitation services are funded by Ontario’s health plan (OHIP). Rehabilitation services that aren’t covered by OHIP are available for an additional fee.
Restorative care is a planned program that helps each resident function at the highest level. The goal of each program is to enhance each resident’s health, independence and well-being.
Restorative care:
- Focuses on helping residents do things for themselves rather than staff “doing for” the resident.
- Focuses on short-term, achievable goals.
- Focuses on preventing deterioration.
- Seeks to improve the resident’s self-image and self-esteem.
Each individual restorative care program is developed in partnership with the centre’s dietitian, physiotherapist and multidisciplinary care team.
A professional therapist assesses all residents. Following this assessment, the therapist will create an individualized treatment plan that will help the resident keep performing daily tasks and actions (such as walking or dressing).
Specialists visit our centres to provide foot care, dental care, audiology, optometry, x-ray and laboratory services. All appointments for these additional health care services take place in specially set-up clinics. Each of our centres has a hair salon where residents can book appointments for hair dressing and barber services.
The level of these services, and how often they’re provided, depends on the individual needs of residents.
Some of these services are available at an additional cost. Residents and family are advised of this cost in advance.
Our homes offer a range of multi-faith, spiritual and personal services through our chaplain, local clergy and faith group representatives. Each of our homes features a room specifically designed for spiritual activities.
Our residents participate in a variety of stimulating recreational programs offered during the day, evening and on weekends. Each of our programs is designed to meet residents’ physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Activities include baking, crafts, themed events and community outings.
Our residents enjoy and experience the positive effects of alternative therapies which could include horticultural therapy, art therapy or music therapy. Alternative therapies improve a resident's physical state, provide a sense of accomplishment and encourage social interaction and emotional well-being.
Pet therapy
Some centres have a pet therapy program which is known to offer physical and emotional benefits and have a positive impact on health. St. John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog Services bring their furry friends to the centres several times a week. Many residents enjoy petting and interacting with these trained friendly dogs.
Housekeeping
Our housekeeping department provides daily services to ensure the centre is clean, attractive, comfortable, safe and secure.
Maintenance
The maintenance department has a comprehensive maintenance program for ensuring residents enjoy a comfortable, secure, and safe environment.
Laundry
Laundry services are provided on-site, free of charge. On admission, all clothing will be labelled by laundry staff within 48 hours of admission. New clothing brought in later should be given to the reception desk to be sent to the laundry for labelling. Items such as bedding, linens, pillows, wash cloths and towels are provided by the centre.
We do not provide dry cleaning services.
Family members who wish to launder a resident's personal clothing at home should advise the Registered Nurse or Director of Care in the resident's home area.
